28 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



also obtained from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Quebec 

 and Rio Janeiro. Later, within a brief period, samples 

 were received of wheat grown in Italy, Egypt, Southern 

 Russia, Siberia, Patagonia, Chili and at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, in each case sufficient for testing by cultivation. 

 Several of these were brought by commanders of vessels of 

 the United States navy. Other seeds of various kinds 

 were procured from distant places and distributed. A 

 special importation from England of several varieties of 

 potatoes was made. In 1792 the potato had not gone into 

 common use in this country, but it was beginning to be ap- 

 preciated, and before the close of the century it superceded 

 the turnip, which had been the chief vegetable on the far- 

 mers' table. Hope was generally entertained in this and 

 other States that silk production might profitably be fol- 

 lowed. Accordingly, mulberry seeds in considerable 

 quantity were distributed and premiums offered for mulber- 

 ry cultivation. Among the seeds brought from foreign 

 ports by vessels of the navy were Persian rye and " pom- 

 pion " seeds. 



During the period indicated relations were established 

 with other agricultural societies, viz., the Middlesex society, 

 when formed in 1794 ; with the Board of Agriculture of 

 Great Britain in 1796 ; with the new society at Sturbridge, 

 Mass., in June, 1799, and with the New York society. 

 Friendly letters were exchanged in each instance and 

 copies of the society's publications were sent to each socie- 

 ty when issued. The most interesting, at the present date, 

 of these experiences is that with the British Board of 

 Agriculture. In November, 1791, William Strickland, a 

 member of that board, who was contemplating a visit to 

 America, was proposed as an honorary member, and unani- 

 mously admitted. In the following August a letter dated 

 in Philadelphia was received, in which he acknowledged 

 with thanks a notification of his election. Soon afterwards 

 the trustees sent some of the society's publications to the 

 board in England, and upon his return he was authorized 



